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Some articles from our own
files:
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 10:05 PM via email
to the Kent Lions Club
Subject: thank you
Hello,
We have just returned from being a vendor in your
Kent Cornucopia Days, and would like to take this
opportunity to thank you very much for allowing us to be
a part. We had a
wonderful experience. All
our neighbors were terrific, we had lots of fun, and lots
of fun with the fairgoers. It truly was enjoyable,
and am looking forward to participating again. We were spot #613 on Second
Avenue, and if possible would like to have that same
spot. We also had Briggittas Designs, and Tupperware next
to us, and would love to have them as neighbors
again. Do you
send out reminders and applications for next year, or do
we have to contact you? Once
again, thank you very much.
The fair was very well organized, and we really
appreciate all the obvious effort that you all have
made!!! Bye for
now, and looking forward to 2003!!!
Sincerely,
Robert and Madeline Zachariuk
The Zachariuks
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 4:31 PM via
email to the Kent Lions Club
Subject: Thank You From Canterbury Faire!
Dear Kent Lions,
The 16 annual Canterbury
Faire is in the books. Approximately 22,000 people
attended the event last weekend. That's a little
down from last year but not by a significant amount.
We wanted to thank
you for helping us make the event a success by setting up
the stage for us each year. In the rain or hot sun,
you are always there working to ensure that it's level
and safe for our performers. Thank you so
much! It's a pleasure to work with you!
Sincerely,
Mark Hendrickson
Cultural Programs Coordinator
Kent Parks, Recreation and
Community Services
From the web
FunkyMonkey@1049
threw down the skate competition and hooked the ...
See one of our Kent Cornucopia Days 2002 sponsors
web site for photo's.
From the web
Miss Cornucopia 2002 entry wins 1st place at
Renton River Days Parade
www.ci.renton.wa.us/rrd/winner02.htm
Kent Lions Club
sponsors and participates in Kent Relay for Life!
A
big thank you to all who helped to make the 2002 American
Cancer Society Kent Relay for Life a success. Our club collected
over $3000.00 and had fun doing it. If you weren’t
there you missed a fun time and a very touching
experience. Thanks to
all who came out and walked the track, as well as the
folks behind the scenes that gave of their time to set up
and take down all the tents.
A special thanks to Dan Silverstri for his generous
contribution of the ever popular ice cream cart, which
brought in $300.00 for the cause. Congrats to Jean
Phillips who operated an awesome Cancer Smart Shop. Thanks again to
everyone who helped to support this worthy cause.
Submitted by Jim Miller and Paula Verhulst.
A story of commitment to
community service
If the
clouds were not present, they would be able to look over
their shoulder at a beautiful view of Mount Rainier. But it is a typical
Washington day, the view is not there, and all of them
have coats or umbrellas.
Instead they move forward, in a generally hushed mode,
reflective of the occasion.
As all these people stroll towards the center of the
ceremony, they must walk down a long straight paved road
lined with over a hundred U.S. flags. As this road is closed
to traffic, numerous barricades block the key
intersections, barricades that are painted white with
“Kent Lions” emblazoned with red on center
& top. A 40 piece
Army band plays and the rain stops, one by one, people
wipe the water off their chairs and sit in solemn
respect. It is a
distinct crowd, mostly older citizens with hats and
uniforms of past service to our county. There are other groups
such as families, current military personnel, a large
contingent of Boy Scouts, and misc. other’s with a
sense of gratitude and history.
Soon it
is time for the ceremony.
Numerous dignitaries file onto the stage, a U.S.
Senator, officials from Washington D.C.,
a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, several local
and state officials. All
eyes are gazed upon the stage, the focus of the ceremony,
a stage constructed, loaned and assembled by the
“Kent Lions”. As
the musical prelude concludes, the Mistress of
Ceremonies, Margaret Larson of Dateline NBC, welcomes the
3,000 people in attendance to the “Tahoma National
Cemetery Dedication Ceremony”. As the audience
listens to all the dignitaries speak, they can’t
help but look at the PA systems speakers on stage, the
ones that have the “Kent Lions Club” logo
distinctly placed in full view.
As the beautiful dedication concludes (only 55 minutes
long), the last word the MC says to the audience is,
“....and we want to especially thank the City of
Kent, the Kent Lions Club, and the Kent Lions Foundation
for all their help. Thank
you for coming today.”
The rain starts once more, and the large crowd walks
past those same white barricades on their way back to the
buses and cars, fulfilled in knowing that nearly 30 years
of hard work is concluded with a country that cares
enough to build the first National Cemetery in
Washington, and knowing that a local service organization
called the “Kent Lions Club” cared enough to
help dedicate that dream.
May those that served our Country rest in peace.
Thus
concludes another successful “Service Project of the
Kent Lions Club”. Was
it alot of work? You
bet it was. We were
asked to help out a couple of months ago and with the
Board’s approval, we got involved. Lion Bill got the ball
rolling and then turned most of the leg work over to Lion
Sam. Lion Sam
attended several meetings and arranged for numerous items
to be completed and added on to the PA system the
Cornucopia Committee has and built a handicapped ramp for
the stage. Then Lions
Sam & Bill spent most of Wednesday, & Thursday up
and all day Friday helping run the ceremony. As always, Lion Gary
helped set up and break down the stage. Also helping out were
Lions Bruce, Everett, & Marian. Lions Dee and Fred
(who among us in this Club earned & deserves this
cemetery the most) even came by to visit and offer us
praise and encouragement.
Did we
benefit? Yes we did. All and all, this was
a very difficult group to work with. Both Lion Sam &
Bill now remember why they don’t like to work with
Federal Government bureaucracies, things where in consent
flux with lots of directions and wants with no help. (Rumor has it that
Lion Sam told them to please loose his number when it was
all over) We got a
lot of good PR out of this from all those involved, as it
seems we will never get the local media attention that we
deserve for our worthy projects, a one on one with the
community seems to work best.
This dedication used our stage, PA system, barricades,
garbage cans, tents/canopies, talent, and connections. The concept is simple,
use of our equipment and talent seems to be one of the
ways to go. People
notice and appreciate it (as they did at the Heritage
Festival we set up and helped at). At the wrap up
reception that night, the Director of the National
Cemetery System (all 115 of them), who is an under
Secretary, the man who made the Keynote Address, Mr.
Jerry Bowen came over to our table to visit and thank us
for all our help. And
when he got up to make his speech at the reception, of
all the people and groups he could of thank, he only
thanked us, the “Kent Lions Club”, noting that
without our help, the ceremony would not have happened,
period. He had us
stand up, and all the National Cemetery people from all
over the country, thanked us for our help.
So we
received more good PR, and our standing in the community
is a little higher. We
have two new prospective members who saw what we did,
actually helped us with setup and break down, and want to
join our merry bunch. We
have a commitment from the VFW to make all the
arraignments and cost to bring the traveling
“Vietnam Memorial Wall” to Kent Cornucopia Days
in a couple of years. But
most of all, we provided a community service. That’s what we
are here for as a club, and I for one am happy. We hope to continue
these types of projects, so please, we would like to have
others in our club become familiar with our equipment and
talents so the “same half dozen guys” can take
a rest.
Lion Bill
Westcott
From an
article submitted to the Kent Lions Club newsletter in
1997
Recent Media Coverage of the Kent Lions Club
2002
Letter to the Editor
South County Journal
9-12-02
KENT LIONS CLUB
Support praised
The Voters Information Committee would like to
publicly thank the Kent Lions Club for the professional
manner in which it managed and supported the Kent
Cornucopia Days Festival activities. This was our first
year to participate at the Cornucopia Days and the Lions
Club provided outstanding guidance and service.
We were able to register some 71 voters and
distribute information on the up coming elections. We are
a Pro-Family Web Information Service,
www.votersinformation.org. The Lions Club should be
recognized and congratulated for their outstanding
community involvement and dedication to making Kent a
wonderful community to live in.
Richard C. Smith
Kent
Opinion
Page
South County Journal
Our View: Charity, beginning at
home, takes hold in once-closed China
Aug 25, 2002
The challenge of expanding peace, prosperity, and
freedom throughout Asia depends to a large extent on
China's willingness to advance these objectives. The
United States has encouraged this effort through
normalization of diplomatic relations and trade.
Now, community service organizations are gaining a
foothold in that once-closed society.
The Lions Club, that U.S.-based service organization
with members in South County communities and around the
world, has opened a branch in Shenzhen. Like other Lions
Clubs, members in Shenzhen will devote themselves to
helping their community, enjoying fellowship, and
electing their own club officers.
This a milestone for China.
China's leadership has long considered overseas
charitable organizations as potential breeding grounds
for political dissent. But as China's government
experiments with capitalism, it also is attempting to
shed responsibility for social services.
According to The Wall Street Journal, China's leaders
want its people to take the initiative in helping less
fortunate members of the population. Chen Ying, a
government official, told the newspaper the Lions offer a
``model for using the resources of society for public
welfare. They aren't completely run by the government.
Instead, people do things on their own.''
It was the Lions' impressive efforts to prevent
blindness that first interested China's leaders,
including the eldest son of the late Den Xiaoping. The
organization has arranged more than 2 million cataract
operations in China. Medical teams were sent into remote
regions of the country to perform the operation and train
rural physicians. Lions Club International raised $16
million for the effort and the Chinese government came up
with $165 million.
Also appealing to China's Communist Party is the
Lions' conservative constitution, which requires that
``partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be
debated by Club members.''
The Shenzhen club has 165 members with another hundred
on a waiting list. Members include doctors, lawyers and
other professionals. Others are government officials and
members of the Community Party. Meanwhile, another Lions
chapter has opened in Guangdong and more are in the
works.
Other international service organizations are also
taking root in China.
Rotary International has granted provisional status to
clubs in Beijing and Shanghai where Rotarians have been
meeting informally for several years. Rotary had clubs
operating in China all the way back to 1919. But the
Communist Party closed all Rotary clubs on the mainland
in 1949. Rotary International is still waiting for the
Chinese government to formally waive restrictions so it
can charter new clubs.
Also operating in China are the YMCA, Save the
Children and Doctors Without Borders.
It's noteworthy that Shenzhen was the first city to
have a Lions Club. That bustling new metropolis is the
poster child for China's initial foray into capitalism.
When President Richard Nixon opened the door to China
in the 1970s, he told Americans that human rights and
political freedom would necessarily follow economic
engagement. While China's government continues to oppress
its people and threaten its neighbors militarily, there
are signs of progress as demonstrated by their embrace of
the Lions Club.
The course Nixon set for America remains the world's
best hope for a prosperous and peaceful Asia.
Count on the marshals to reign on the parade,
Seattle
Times, July 26, 2002
Local
News
July 26, 2002
By John
Wolfson
Seattle Times staff reporter
Colleen Coole twirls through the blocked-off
intersection, buoyant and squeezing her baby
granddaughter.
After weeks of preparation and hours of setup, the
Cornucopia Days Grand Parade is half over, and the hard
work seems done. The spacing among the Kent parade's
marchers, trucks and trailers has been good all
afternoon, people are mostly following the rules against
throwing candy into the crowd, and no one has been hurt.
And this is how they like things to go, these Seafair
parade marshals, these 35 or so volunteers in their crisp
baby-blue shirts and Navy-inspired caps.
They plan, organize and run all 18 Seafair community
parades each year, including tomorrow's Torchlight Parade
in Seattle. They place marshals everywhere: back in the
assembly area to keep entrants in sequence as they await
their runs, along the parade route to keep distance
between the units, at the end to direct entrants into the
dispersal area.
With them are volunteer "shadow" ham-radio
operators who keep all the marshals in contact, talking
in secret-sounding sequences of numbers and letters:
"KG7KU, this is WA7NIW, go ahead," says Dick
Radford, pressing a small button near his throat. Radford
is shadowing Coole, head marshal at the July 14
Cornucopia Days parade, and he listens through an
earpiece, nodding.
"Colleen, there's a problem with one of the
equestrian units," he reports.
Meanwhile, over on Fifth Avenue, in the waiting zone,
poodle-primped llamas stroll among cowgirl steppers, a
Viking ark rests near a motorized miniature version of an
Air Force jet, and clowns intermingle with local
politicians. Themes collide and overlap, like a run-on
sentence or the Las Vegas Strip.
Don Dodge, however, doesn't seem to notice. Flipping
through his 10-page parade roster, he sees only order
amid this jumble of fur and makeup and music. After all,
he's 73 now, a parade marshal with 52 years' experience
who still works more than a dozen events a year. He'll be
out there at the Torchlight tomorrow, too.
Dodge's father, Raymond, a career Navy man who fought
in both world wars, started with the Seafair marshals in
their first year, 1950, and remained a marshal until five
years before his death in the early 1980s, when he was
83. Dodge joined him in 1951, but he couldn't become an
official member because back then the marshals had to be
military veterans. He was granted official membership
when he returned from Korea in 1954.
"It was the closest thing for a retired military
man," Dodge says. "Then, we were pretty much a
pseudo-military operation."
Some of that still remains, and not just in the
marshals' uniforms and the radio networks. On this day,
Dodge is working the "Bravo" section in the
waiting area, while others watch "Alpha" and
"Charlie."
But let's not forget that little equestrian problem
Radford is sharing with Coole. Horses, Coole explains,
are sometimes spooked by whistles, horns and music while
they wait for their turn in the parade.
"That's why we stuff them back in the corner, to
keep them as far away as we can."
At this parade, that corner is the place where West
Saar Street dead-ends at a small hill. There, Michelle
Schunzel is spinning in wide circles as Kazi, a white
Arabian, prances fitfully under her.
Kilted bagpipers warming up a couple hundred yards
ahead sent Kazi and the other two horses in Schunzel's
entry into panicked confusion. The horses roll their
heads in frenzied orbits and clop their feet forward and
back. The drill team whistles aren't helping either,
Schunzel says.
Entering the horses had seemed a sound business plan
to Schunzel, owner of a day spa in Kent, but she hadn't
considered the effect of all the noise on the animals.
Though she and two staff members handle the frightened
horses with admirable skill, Schunzel doesn't like how it
is unfolding.
"If they're not better by the time we start,
we'll have to get down and walk them," she says.
They finally make it to the starting line, but the
horses remain agitated. Ultimately, the marshals let only
Schunzel go.
"There was too much chance they could have
accidentally hurt someone in the crowd, the horses were
jumping around so much," explains Robert Belanich,
the group's chief marshal.
A few minutes later, four huge wreckers, tow trucks
used to haul semis, rumble onto Fourth Avenue. The trucks
are linked together, their emergency lights flashing,
their air horns blaring.
"Ahhh, we need to keep an eye on that
horse," parade marshal Vicki Hoyt says. Hoyt, Coole
and Belanich all tilt their heads to catch a glimpse of
Schunzel, her terrified horse spinning wildly in tight
circles. Unaware, the wreckers happily blow their horns.
The three marshals break into a sprint.
"Stop!" Coole screams to the truckers,
waving her arms. "Stop! No horns!"
But Schunzel is already off the animal. Belanich and
Hoyt approach, but there is nothing they can do. Schunzel
leads Buddy off Fourth Avenue via a side street. She
turns up a gravel road, followed by a small entourage of
family and friends. "He gave it a good go," she
says with a pat of the horse's neck, her head just
peeking over him.
Behind her follows a little girl in a pink dress and
crown. "Why do we have to get out of the
parade?" the little princess wonders.
"Because," responds an older girl, "the
stupid horse went crazy."
Back on Fourth Avenue, Coole, Belanich and Hoyt walk
the parade route, smiling in relief and satisfaction.
They have done their jobs. No one has gotten hurt —
barely anyone had noticed, in fact — and the parade
marches on.
Copyright © 2002 The Seattle
Times Company
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=parademarshal25&date=20020726&query=Coole
Letters to the Editor
July 24, 2002
KENT
Great fun for all
Genuine thanks and appreciation goes to all the
sponsors; wonderful volunteers; Joel Shilling, former
Portland Rose Festival dragon boat race director; Kent
Lions Club Cornucopia Committee; Kent Yangzhou Sister
City Committee; city of Kent; the South County Journal;
and the Kent Reporter for another good year of dragon
boat racing.
All 17 teams had a great time and look forward to
returning next year. The Canadian team, ``Nothin'Dragin'
-- ages 55-77 -- was marvelous. Team members marched in
the parade and encouraged the seniors in Kent to form a
team and get moving.
All the teams were an inspiration. I am especially
proud of Kent's five teams. They were brave, mighty in
spirit and some want to come back next year.
When reviewing the results, it is plain to see teams
won by just a matter of seconds. There was a great effort
poured out and plenty of potential for some competitive
teams coming up in Kent.
The most enjoyable race was the city of Kent team
headed up by Tier White and the volunteers who boarded
three boats at the last minute. They demonstrated that
there is a definite interest in the community for this
sport.
This event could never have happened without the help
of all involved. Thanks so much again. You all have
helped bring a unique, healthy sport -- and some
extraordinary fun -- to Lake Meridian.
Cheryl Corbin
Kent Lions Cornucopia Dragon Board Race Chair
LOCAL Sports
July 19, 2002
FROM JOURNAL REPORTS, South County Journal
BASEBALL: Hall pitches Kent to Jr. Legion win
KENT -- Eric Hall pitched four-hit ball through 5¼
innings, and his teammates gave him all the support he
needed with three runs in the bottom of the second as the
Kent Junior Legion team defeated Federal Way, 4-1.
Hall struck out two and walked two. Ian Harrington
picked up the save.
In the second, Blake Sheridan and Ryan Kelly had
back-to-back singles. Sheridan stole third, then came
home on a squeeze bunt by Kiko Martinez. Kelly then
scored on a bunt single by Hall, and Martinez came home
on Chad Spencer's single.
Kelly's leadoff triple and Hall's single made it 4-0
in the bottom of the sixth. Federal Way scored one in the
seventh on an error with the bases loaded and one out.
But Harrington got the final two outs to quash the rally.
Hall finished 2 for 4. Andrew Theisen and Kelly each
went 2 for 3.
YOUTH SOCCER: ICM 90 takes second at Diadora
REDMOND -- After outscoring its opponents by a 20-5
margin in the first four games, ICM 90 came up short on
offense Sunday and dropped a 2-0 decision to Northwest
National Roma of Lynnwood in the U-12 boys division final
of the Diadora Cup.
This was the first tournament of the season for ICM
90, which plays at the Gold-Titanium level in the Kent
Youth Soccer Association.
The team, coached by Dan Angevine and Brian McKelvey,
will be back on the same 60 Acres fields in August at the
Copa Cup.
GYMNASTICS: Mertens earns All-American status
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- Adriane Mertens was second on
beam, third on vault, fourth on bars and third
all-around, and teammate Amanda Hall won all four events
plus the all-around title, helping Grace Gymnastics of
Lakewood win the YMCA National Championships.
Lakewood finished the two-day meet with 226.475
points, beating out Cuyamaca's 225.325.
Mertens, who also was part of the Washington team that
won the National High School Championships in May, had a
two-day all-around total of 74.9 (37.175 and 37.725).
Hall's winning total was 76.225 (37.775, 38.45).
On the beam, Mertens' best mark in three performances
was 9.625. On the vault, it was a 9.5, and on the bars,
it was a 9.4. Her performances earned her YMCA
All-American status for the second straight year. She
will attend San Jose State University on a full-ride
gymnastics scholarship starting this fall.
Hall's top marks in three performances were 9.625 on
vault, 9.775 on bars, 9.4 on beam and 9.85 on floor.
Jennifer Chang of Lakewood took third on floor and
eighth all-around (72.65 for two days).
Lakewood is coached by Brian Muenz.
HOOPS: Sonics dance team auditions are tomorrow
SEATTLE -- Open auditions for the 2002-03 Sonics dance
team are scheduled for tomorrow at Bellevue Community
College. Auditions are open to men and women who will be
18 or older by this November.
Dancers should have strong jazz and hip-hop
experience. They should wear form-fitting clothing and
non-marking shoes to the auditions. There is no cost.
Dancers are asked to bring a current, non-returnable
headshot photo and resume.
Registration begins at 10 a.m., with auditions from 11
a.m.-5 p.m. Finalists will be required to participate in
a second phase of auditions July 22, 23 and 24.
More information is available by calling the dance
team hotline at (206) 281-5800.
Local golf
RIVERBEND LADIES CLUB
First Division -- Low gross: JoAnne Sundquist 62. Low
net: (tie) Arley Renschler and Mary Jo Hawk 52. Second
Division -- Low gross: Norman Tritterington 74. Low net:
(tie) Carmel Camerini and Shirley Hauge 49. Third
Division -- Low gross: 1, Ann Delaurenti 75; 2, Jean
Boldan 82. Low net: 1, (tie) Marilyn McGinnis and Dot
Purser 44; 2, Pat LaKous 48. Least putts -- Ruth Swanson
27.
Boat racing
KENT CORNUCOPIA DAYS
DRAGON BOAT RACES
Women's Division
Round 1, Heat 1 -- 1,
Wasabi Team Huge 2:18.86; 2, Ladies of the Lake 2:52.37.
Round 1, Heat 2 -- 1, Wasabi Power Surge 2:25.37; 2,
Survivors SAKE 2:55.60.
Round 2, Heat 7 -- 1,
Wasabi Team Huge 2:17.30; 2, Survivors SAKE 2:53.16.
Round 2, Heat 8 -- 1, Wasabi Power Surge 2:29.00; 2,
Ladies of the Lake 3:01.19.
Final -- 1, Wasabi Team
Huge 2:11.04; 2, Wasabi Power Surge 2:20.66. Recreational
final -- 1, Survivors SAKE 2:47.61; 2, Ladies of the Lake
2:48.57.
Mixed Division
Round 1, Heat 3 -- 1,
Hot Wasabi 2:17.92; 2, Destiny Dragons 2:23.01; 3,
Nothin' Dragon 2:30.15; 4, Team Eagles 2:59.77. Round 1,
Heat 4 -- 1, Draco Koa Akua 2:08.02; 2, Stumptown
Paddlers 2:27.90; 3, Dragsters-(Napa) 2:31.36. Round 1,
Heat 5 -- 1, Zamboanga 2:12.58; 2, Multnomah Channel C.C.
2:20.87; 3, Dragin Tails 2:26.72. Round 1, Heat 6 -- 1,
Kai Ikaika 2:09.67; 2, Blenz Coffee Fluid Power 2:12.97;
3, Parts Peddlers 2:33.22.
Round 2, Heat 9 -- 1,
Hot Wasabi 2:16.17; 2, Stumptown Paddlers 2:21.29; 3,
Dragin Tails 2:27.80. Round 2, Heat 10 -- 1, Draco Koa
Akua 2:07.46; 2, Multnomah Channel C.C. 2:17.61; 3, Parts
Peddlers 2:28.39; 4, Team Eagles 2:35.55. Round 2, Heat
11 -- 1, Blenz Coffee Fluid Power 2:06.27; 2, Zamboanga
2:06.49; 3, Nothin' Dragon 2:23.22. Round 2, Heat 12 --
1, Kai Ikaika 2:07.52; 2, Destiny Dragons 2:17.11; 3,
Dragsters-(Napa) 2:30.88.
Final -- 1, Draco Koa
Akua 2:04.47; 2, Kai Ikaika 2:04.65; 3, Blenz Coffee
Fluid Power 2:09.77; 4, Hot Wasabi 2:11.81. Local final
-- 1, Parts Peddlers 2:24.75; 2, Dragin Tails 2:25.57; 3,
Dragsters-(Napa) 2:26.90; 4, Team Eagles 2:41.95.
Recreational semifinals
-- Heat 15: Zamboanga 2:07.45; 2, Parts Peddlers 2:22.88;
3, Nothin' Dragon 2:23.19; 4, Destiny Dragons 2:30.11.
Heat 16: 1, Multnomah Channel C.C. 2:18.01; 2, Stumptown
Paddlers 2:23.57; 3, Dragsters-(Napa) 2:30.54.
Recreational final -- 1, Zamboanga 2:11.52; 2, Stumptown
Paddlers 2:21.39; 3, Multnomah Channel C.C. 2:21.79; 4,
Parts Peddlers-(Napa) 2:34.72.
Opinion Page
Down for sales of alcohol to
minors, up for two mayors
July 15, 2002
South County Journal
Thumbs down for 11 local business caught selling
alcohol to minors. State liquor agents cited the
following in recent raids along airport row: the Marriott
Hotel, the Hilton, 13 Coins, the Doubletree, Dave's
Diner, VIP Sports Bar, Boulevard Cafe, Atami Japanese,
Sandstone Inn, Radisson Hotel and Funster's Grand Casino.
Thumbs up for the mayors of Renton and Auburn for
launching a campaign to improve SR 167 through these
cities. It's about time.
Thumbs up for the many
volunteers who make our community festivals a fun, family
occasion every summer. Events such as Kent's Cornucopia
and Tukwila Days don't just suddenly sprout overnight.
These festivals take months of planning and coordination.
This weekend, take time between bites of barbecue
sandwiches and other delicious fare to thank organizers.
Thumbs up for Wayne and Karen Delgardno of Renton who
increased their family from four children to nine by
adopting five Russian orphans. The Russian children were
a family and officials there didn't want them separated
if possible. The Delgardnos originally planned to adopt
two older children but when Wayne saw information about
five orphaned siblings, the family quickly agreed to open
their arms wider.
Thumbs up for President Bush for proclaiming the years
2003 to 2006 the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. Meriwether
Lewis and William Clark were outstanding men: smart,
brave and resourceful. All those qualities and more were
needed as they jointly led an expedition to the Pacific
The two gave us a great story reflecting who we are as
Americans. It is a story we ought to be hearing a lot
more about over the next several years.
Thumbs down for airport security screeners who have
failed to detect fake guns and bombs in nearly a quarter
of undercover tests conducted in June by agents at the
Transportation Security Administration. The agents were
told to pack their bags like an average passenger and not
try to hide the weapons as a terrorist might. We wonder
how high the failure rate would have been in a
``real-world'' scenario.
Thumbs down for the U.S. Postal Service, which so far
is balking at authorizing a stamp commemorating the
Purple Heart. The Postal Service meets this week in
Washington, D.C., to consider ideas for new images for
stamps. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., is pushing to
get the honor for American veterans wounded or killed by
the enemy. A committee has rejected the idea, saying that
the Postal Service already has issued a stamp honoring
all veterans. Since the start of World War II, 1.8
million Americans have received the Purple Heart. About
600,000 are still alive. The Purple Heart originated with
George Washington, who presented it to deserving troops
or their relatives.
WEEKEND UPDATE:
July 13, 2002
Soutn County Journal
FAMILIES
Tukwila Days will be held today and tomorrow at the
Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave. S. Community
festival with parade, pancake breakfast, art show, live
music, arts and crafts, and more. Free except for special
events. Call 206-768-2822.
Circus Chimera will perform at 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
and 7:30 p.m. today and at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
tomorrow at the SuperMall (near Regal Cinemas), 1101
SuperMall Way, Auburn. The ``World's Tallest Big Top''
features fast-paced, tightly orchestrated acts performing
fantastic feats on the ground and in the air, including
aerial contortion, juggling, tumbling, balancing, flying
trapeze, jump roping and more. Call 253-833-9500.
Kent Cornucopia Days
will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 10
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. tomorrow along Meeker Street in
downtown Kent. Community parade (2 p.m. tomorrow),
carnival, art show, military displays, live
entertainment. Free. Call 253-852-5466. Web site:
www.kcdays.com.
Kent Jaycees Pancake
Feed will be held from 8-10 a.m. tomorrow in the Safeway
tent on the corner of First and Titus in Kent. Proceeds
to Pediatric Interim Care Center. Donations accepted.
Call 206-296-9012. (Part of Kent Cornucopia Days)
Return to Renton will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. today at Carco Park, 1717 S.E. Maple Valley Highway,
Renton. More than 500 classic cars, music, contests,
scavenger hunt, music and car trivia contest, followed by
procession of old cars through downtown Renton, beginning
about 3:30 p.m. The event benefits Renton Police youth
programs. Car registration is $12 to $17. Free. Call
425-827-8463.
Italian Heritage Fair
will be held from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today and tomorrow
at the Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St.
Presented by the Sons of Italy Grand Lodge of the
Northwest, Classes, demonstrations, exhibits, games and
food. Call 206-243-7215. Web site: www.osiaglnw.org.
(Part of Kent Cornucopia Days)
Beach Naturalists will answer questions from noon to 4
p.m. today and from 1-5 p.m. tomorrow at Des Moines Beach
Park, 22030 Cliff Ave. S., and at Seahurst Park, 140th
Avenue Southwest and 16th Avenue Southwest in Burien.
Parachutes Work!, a family workshop, will be presented
at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. today and tomorrow
at the Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S.,
Tukwila. Museum admission is $9.50 for general, $8.50 for
ages 65 and older, $5 for ages 5-17; free for ages 4 and
younger. Call 206-764-5720. Web site:
www.museumofflight.org.
Psychic Faire and Metaphysical Event will be held from
noon to 6 p.m. today at the Red Lion Hotel-Southcenter,
205 Strander Blvd. Tukwila. Free. Call 253-859-2420.
Animal Heroes Aide Dog Awareness will be presented at
2 p.m. today at the Federal Way 320th Library, 848 S.
320th St. Call 253-839-0257.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Kent Cornucopia Days Old
Time Music Festival will begin at 10:30 a.m. today with
free fiddle and guitar workshops, followed by shows at 2
p.m. and 7 p.m., at Kent Meridian High School Performing
Arts Center, 10020 S.E. 256th St., Kent. Admission is $3
to $6; free for ages 11 and younger. Call 253-939-8436 or
425-228-5846.
``Equine Art 2002,'' presented by the Washington
Thoroughbred Breeders Association, will be displayed from
11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and tomorrow at the track
level at Emerald Downs, 2300 Emerald Downs Drive, Auburn.
Call 253-288-7878.
Artrain USA will be open
from noon to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
tomorrow at Sixth Avenue and Meeker Street in Kent. The
traveling museum will display ``Artistry of Space,''
featuring artworks from NASA and the National Air Space
Museum. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for ages 12 and
younger. Call 253-856-5058. (Part of Kent
Cornucopia Days)
``Empty Heads and Comet Tales'' will be staged at 7
p.m. today and at 2 p.m. tomorrow at E.B. Foote Winery,
127-B S.W. 153rd St., Burien. Breeders theater presents
the show written and directed by T.M. Sell. Tickets are
$20, include hors d'oeuvres and wine tasting. Call
206-242-3852.
Heritage Singers ``Because of Love'' Tour will be
presented at 7:30 p.m. today at the Auburn Performing
Arts Center, 700 E. Main St. An offering will be taken.
Call 253-931-4827.
``Hats Off!'' featuring more than 100 hats, will be
displayed from noon to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow at White
River Valley Museum, 918 H St. S.E., Auburn. Admission is
$2 for general, $1 for children, seniors. Call
253-288-7437. Web site: www.wrvmuseum.org.
City hosts special guests from Mexico
July 12, 2002
Journal Staff, South County Journal
KENT -- Local residents are playing host this week to
visitors from the city of El Grullo in the Mexican state
of Jalisco.
El Grullo Mayor Armando Nunez and officials from his
city are meeting with Kent officials, members of the Kent
Chamber of Commerce, local business owners and staff from
the Kent School District and Highline Community College.
The visit marks the beginning of the Kent-El Grullo
Friendship City relationship. Washington and Jalisco
already are sister states, so Roberto Gonzales figured it
was logical that Kent should have a Friendship City
there.
Gonzales, the owner of Mexico Lindo restaurant in
downtown Kent, is a native of El Grullo. He left his
hometown for the United States about 40 years ago.
Employees and owners of other Mexican restaurants in
South County also are natives of Jalisco State or have
family ties there.
The goal of the Friendly City relationship is to
promote international awareness and understanding between
residents of Kent and El Grullo, helping residents of
each city learn about education, business and cultural
arts in the other city.
Gonzales brought the idea to other area residents and
then to the Kent Sister City Association, which endorsed
the Friendly City relationship. Kent has five sister
cities in Japan, China, Ireland, Ukraine and Norway, and
Friendly City ties with cities in China and Korea.
Besides meeting with
local residents and touring the area, the El Grullo mayor
and other visitors also will be participants in the Kent
Lions Club Cornucopia Days parade on Sunday.
A flying start for Cornucopia Days:
Annual Kent festival opens today
July 12, 2002
Journal Staff, South County Journal
KENT -- Follow the crowds downtown today through
Sunday for Kent Cornucopia Days.
The annual festival sponsored by the Kent Lions Club
features one of the region's largest street fairs, with
more than 600 booths along downtown streets. There are
also carnival rides and a wide range of entertainment and
displays.
The Cornucopia Days Grand Parade begins at 2 p.m.
Sunday, with best viewing along Fourth Avenue near City
Hall.
This year, the festival has added a large food court
and entertainment stage at Burlington Green Park on Smith
Street near Railroad Avenue.
A new attraction is Artrain USA, the nation's only art
exhibit that travels by train. Railroad gallery cars
displaying artworks will be along Sixth Avenue near
Meeker Street from noon to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow, and
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults
and $1 for children 12 and younger. There are works by
Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol and others. The primary
exhibit features artworks depicting space exploration.
Free entertainment is offered at stages at Burlington
Green Park at Smith Street and Railroad Avenue; the
Sierra Springs Main Stage in the Kent Library parking lot
at Second Avenue and Smith Street; the Youth Stage on
Smith Street near Sixth Avenue; the Main State on Smith
Street near Second Avenue; and the Gazebo Stage on
Railroad Avenue.
Cornucopia Days activities
Today
* 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- Street fair, farmers market and
other events.
* 2 p.m. to midnight -- Funtastic Shows Carnival on
Smith Street between Fourth and Second avenues.
* Noon to 9 p.m. -- Free entertainment on festival
stages.
* All day -- Downtown merchants sidewalk sale.
* 8 p.m. to dark -- Square dancing at Fourth Avenue
and Meeker Street.
Tomorrow
* City surplus auction at 704 W. Meeker St.; viewing
starts at 8 a.m., bidding at 9 a.m.
* 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. -- Italian-American Fair, Kent
Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St.
* 7 p.m. -- Miss Cornucopia Coronation at Main Stage
by Kent Library.
* 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- Street fair, farmers market,
other events open.
* 11 a.m. to midnight -- Funtastic Shows Carnival.
* 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. --Entertainment on festival
stages.
Sunday
* 8 to 10 a.m. -- Kent Jaycees Pancake Feed at First
and Titus; donations accepted.
* 2 p.m. -- Cornucopia Days Grand Parade on Fourth
Avenue South between Willis and James streets features
marching bands, drill teams, bag pipers, Cornucopia Day
royalty, the Seafair Pirates and many other entries.
* 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- Street fair, farmers market and
other events open.
* Noon to 8 p.m. -- Funtastic Shows Carnival.
* Noon to 6 p.m. -- Entertainment on festival stages.
* 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. -- Italian-American Fair, Kent
Senior Center, 600 E, Smith St.
Photo By: Patrick Hagerty/Journal. The 'Red Baron
Squadron,' two WWII Boeing Stearman open-cockpit
biplanes, flies in formation over South County yesterday.
The planes are here for Kent Cornucopia Days and will
conduct a flyover to kick off the Grand Parade at 2 p.m.
Sunday.
Kent holds Cornucopia Days
July 12, 2002
Journal Staff, South County Journal
THE LOWDOWN KENT CORNUCOPIA DAYS Through Sunday. Hours
are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow and 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Sunday for the street fair; 2 p.m. to midnight
today, 11 a.m. to midnight tomorrow and noon-8 p.m.
Sunday for the the carnival; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow
for dragon boat races; 10:30 a.m. to noon, 1:30 to 4 p.m.
and 6:30 to 9 p.m. tomorrow for the Old Time Music
Festival. Tickets: free (except for special events). Call
253-852-5466 or visit www.kcdays.com. Where: Various
locations in Kent.
An old-time music festival, a carnival, America's only
train art museum, dragon boat races and a street fair are
just a few of the highlights of this weekend's Kent
Cornucopia Days Festival.
Now in its 31st year, the celebration is South King
County's oldest and largest family festival.
The event opened yesterday in downtown Kent with a
carnival complete with rides and games. Events will
continue through Sunday.
A highlight of this year's festival is sure to be the
dragon boat races -- a sport evolving from Chinese
tradition -- which begins at 10 a.m. and continues
through 6 p.m. tomorrow at Lake Meridian Park.
The annual Old Time Music Festival will take place
throughout the day tomorrow at Kent-Meridian High School,
10020 S.E. 256th St., Kent. A Western style dance will be
held from 10:30 a.m. to noon. A matinee performance
featuring bluegrass, Cajun, fiddlers, vocalists,
harmonica and piano players from throughout the Northwest
begins at 1:30 p.m. The evening performance begins at
6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $3-$6 and the event is
sponsored by the Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association
(for more information about the music festival, call
253-939-8436).
Anchoring the festival downtown will be the Street
Fair, featuring more than 600 booths, two food courts and
entertainment stages.
New to this year's festival is the Artrain USA,
America's only traveling rail art museum featuring works
from American artists Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol, as
well as artwork from NASA chronicling almost four decades
of NASA history. The train will be located along Sixth
Avenue between Meeker and Smith Streets. Tickets are
$1-$3.
Other activities include an art show at the Rose Park
throughout the festival, an Italian-American Fair from 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Kent Senior Center, the
Jaycees Pancake Feed from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Pediatric
Interim Care Center and a Scout show and safety fair
throughout the festival.
Dragon boat races set for tomorrow
July 12, 2002
Journal Staff, South County Journal
KENT -- Long, sleek boats with racing teams paddling
to the beat of drums will skim across Lake Meridian
tomorrow in the second annual Kent Lions Cornucopia Days
dragon boat races.
Up to 16 teams from as far away as Canada are expected
for the competition at Lake Meridian Park. They'll be
joining some local teams, including Ladies of the Lake,
sponsored by the Valley Breast Clinic at Valley Medical
Center, and Dragin Tales, comprised of Kent School
District teachers and other employees.
Each boat is adorned with a dragon's head, a
traditional symbol for the ancient sport that has
recently won new participants. Unlike traditional scull
racing, which requires rowers in top physical condition,
dragon boat racing allows crews of up to 20 members of
all ages and athletic abilities whose primary focus is to
work as a team.
The racing festival begins at 10 a.m. tomorrow with a
Lion Dance, sponsored by the Kent Yangzhou Sister City
Committee. Boat races and other events at the park
continue through 5 p.m.
There will be entertainment at the park through the
day, including music and the Boeing Klowns Klub. There
also will be food booths, games and other family
activities.
Parking at Lake Meridian Park is limited. Free shuttle
buses run through the day from the Metro park and ride on
132nd Avenue Southeast at Southeast 272nd Street
(Kent-Kangley Road); Horizon Elementary School, 27641
144th Ave. S.E.; Kentwood High School, 25800 164th Ave.
S.E.; the Kent fire station at 15635 S.E. 272nd St.; and
Covington Library, 27100 164th Ave. S.E.
Seafair parades, festivals continue
this weekend
July 12, 2002
Journal Staff, South County Journal
THE LOWDOWN SEAFAIR Through Aug. 4. Call 206-728-0123 or
visit www.seafair.com. Where: Various locations
throughout Seattle area
The 53rd annual Seafair is the largest ongoing summer
festival in these parts and features a host of events
throughout July and August. For a complete schedule,
contact Seafair at 206-728-0123 or visit www.seafair.com.
Here are sanctioned Seafair community events and
official Seafair events happening this week:
Seafair sanctioned community events
* Kent Cornucopia Days
and Parade: Through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, downtown Kent,
along Meeker Street. Call 253-852-5466.
* Mercer Island Summer Celebration: Today to Sunday
(parade at 10 a.m. Saturday at 78th Avenue Southeast from
Southeast 27th to Southeast 32nd streets), festival takes
place at various locations in downtown Mercer Island.
Call 206-236-7285.
* Chinatown/International District Festival: 11 a.m.
to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Hing Hay
Park and surrounding locations, 411 Maynard Ave. S.,
Seattle. Call 206-382-1197.
* Redmond Derby Days Parade and Festival: Saturday, 10
a.m. to 7 p.m. (kid's parade at 10 a.m. south on 161st
Avenue Northeast and east on Redmond Way, west on
Northeast 80th Street), Redmond Community Center. Call
425-556-2300.
* Hispanic Seafair Organization Festival: Sunday, 9
a.m. to 6 p.m., Seward Park Amphitheater, Seattle. Call
206-523-5930.
* Seafair Indian Pow Wow: July 19-21, 7 to 11 p.m.
Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Daybreak Star
Cultural Center, Discovery Park, Seattle. Call
206-325-0070, ext. 53.
12fseafairangels.jpg (plus various pics from last
7/5):
The 53rd annual Seafair festival will culminate in a
weekend-long celebration Aug. 2-4 that includes the
KeyBank Seafair Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue
Angels. They'll perform from noon to 12:45 p.m. over
South Lake Washington.
Photo: The Chinatown/International District Festival
will be held tomorrow and Sunday in Seattle.
South County Scene: From hoops to
houses for Seattle Storm
July 12, 2002
by Mary
Swift, South County Journal
* Taking The Battle For Affordable Housing By Storm --
Coach Liz Dunn and members of the Seattle Storm women's
professional basketball team are often found on the
basketball court.
On July 21, you can find Dunn and some Storm players
digging in at the groundbreaking for a new Habitat for
Humanity home in Renton.
The house, at 526 Pelly Ave. N., is part of Habitat
for Humanity International's Women Building A Legacy
program.
Women construction crews will collaborate on the
house, which will be the first women-built Habitat for
Humanity home in South King County.
Since 1991, women crews have built 300 of the 100,000
Habitat homes constructed in this country.
The groundbreaking is scheduled at 3 p.m.
* Bragging Rights --
It's all on the line tomorrow. But it's not the Super
Bowl.
It's not the Major
League Baseball All-Star game.
It's not the World
Series or the Stanley Cup.
It's just some city of
Kent employees battling (and paddling) to show that when
the paddle hits the water, Kent has it over other
communities.
Count on pride -- and
bragging rights -- being on the line during the ``Battle
for the Paddle'' at Kent Cornucopia Days Dragon Boat
races.
The races, slated for
Lake Meridian, kick off at 10 a.m. with the arrival of
the ceremonial dragon boat carrying Mayor Jim White and
Cornucopia Days chairman Bill Westcott, among others.
Sixteen teams are slated
for competition. Race coordinator Cheryl Corbin says that
figure includes a senior team from Canada who call
themselves ``Nothin' Dragon.''
``The members range from
55 to 77,'' Corbin said.
While there will be
plenty of spirited competition among regular teams, the
liveliest -- and probably funniest -- competition may be
the ``Battle for the Paddle.''
A team of city of Kent
staff members recruited by White take on a team
representing several other communities.
How well prepared are
they for the competition?
Let's just say the city
of Kent team will bring more enthusiasm than training to
the contest.
Cheryl Viseth, one of
the city of Kent team members, said the team of
volunteers planned to hold their first --and probably
only -- practice yesterday.
Viseth said the city of
Kent team will include some paddlers from Covington.
So, I asked, if the Kent
team loses, can the loss be blamed on the Covington
contingent?
Viseth laughed.
``Exactly,'' she said.
* The Waiting Game -- Jed Rodarte, the 25-year-old
Auburn High grad who once weighed more than 700 pounds,
continues his wait for gastric bypass surgery to help him
lose weight.
Jed's insurance company won't pay for the surgery so
friends and family have mounted an effort to raise money
to cover his costs.
So far, Jed says, about $18,000 has been raised and
tickets are still being sold for a raffle. (The drawing
will be held in December, he said.)
Some things have fallen into place: Jed has lost
weight and is closer to the 600-pound goal he needs to
reach in order to have the surgery.
And his doctor has agreed to donate his services for
the surgery, a move that significantly reduces the costs
Jed faces.
That's the good news.
Here's the bad: Jed said medical tests have revealed
some complications.
That could delay the surgery, which Jed hopes to
sometime around the end of August or early September.
``It's kind of weird. I was feeling good. Then I find
out I've got some problems going on,'' he said. ``So
right now I'm kind of going crazy waiting.''
Jed was scheduled to meet with a specialist this week.
South County Scene is written by Mary Swift and
appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call
253-872-6672 or e-mail mary.swift@
southcountyjournal.com.
Briefly
July 11, 2002
South County Journal
KENT
Old Time Music Festival to be held at high school
The Kent Cornucopia Old Time Music Festival will be
held from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Kent-Meridian
High School's Performing Arts Center, 10020 S.E. 256th
St.
The festival, sponsored by the Kent Lions Club and the
Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association, will feature
free fiddle and guitar workshops from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Two shows will be presented from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9
p.m. Saturday, with pre-shows at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the shows are $3 to $6. For more
information, call Pete Gomes at 253-939-8436 or Roy
Calvert at 425-228-5846.
Celebrate Seafair: Planes, pirates and
parades all part of summer festival
July 05, 2002
by Sue Kidd
Journal Reporter, South County Journal
Now in its 53rd year, much has changed about the
Seafair festival -- the region's largest and longest
summer celebration.
It has grown from a small Seattle festival carrying a
$75,000 price tag to a giant $4 million month-long
regional celebration including a parade, a triathlon and
bicycle criterium, dozens of sanctioned community and
cultural events and the highly anticipated hydroplane
races and air show.
Despite its ambitious growth, the nature of Seafair
has always remained a community celebration. It's just
that there are more events now. Lots more events. The
dozens of Seafair sanctioned community and cultural
events -- from the Mercer Island Summer Celebration July
12-14 to Covington's birthday celebration July 26-28 --
are just a warm-up for the official celebration Aug. 2-4
that thousands plan to attend. The General Motors Cup
hydroplane races and air show featuring the Blue Angels
are both held on South Lake Washington. And don't forget
about the Torchlight Parade in downtown Seattle July 27.
Every summer, Seafair has welcomed the arrival of the
U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Fleet, along with
thousands of sailors on board who flock to the shores of
Elliott Bay. This year, however, because of security
concerns, it's unclear whether public tours will be
allowed on the boats, as they have in past years.
Seafair officially starts this weekend with the
landing of the Seafair pirates at noon tomorrow at Alki
Beach. The pirate landing is a hugely symbolic beginning
to the festival that dates back to 1950. Also happening
this weekend are the milk carton derby at Green Lake, the
Redmond Derby Bicycle Criterium and the Talgo Criterium
bicycle race at Seafair.
Events will continue through early August. Here's a
closer look at the schedule. For a complete schedule or
for more information about events, call the 24-hour
Seafair hotline at 206-728-0123 or visit www.seafair.com.
Major events
* Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki: Tomorrow, noon at
Alki Beach. The pirates will then make their way to the
Seafair Milk Carton Derby.
* Hasbro Seafair Milk Carton Derby: Tomorrow, 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m., Southwest corner of Green Lake.
* Talgo Criterium at Seafair: Sunday, 7:15 p.m.
(women's races) and 8:45 p.m. (men's races), Pike Place
Market, Seattle.
* Benaroya Research Institute Triathlon at Seafair:
July 21, 7 a.m., Seward Park, Seattle.
* Miss Seafair Scholarship Program for Women
Coronation 2002: July 23, 7:30 p.m., Bagley Wright
Theatre, Seattle Center, Seattle.
* UPS Torchlight Run at Seafair, co-sponsored by Gart
Sports: July 27, 6:20 p.m., downtown Seattle, beginning
and ending at Seattle Center.
* Southwest Airlines Torchlight Parade at Seafair:
July 27, 7:30 p.m., begins at Seattle Center and
continues south on Fourth Avenue to Second and King
Street.
* Seafair Fleet Arrival presented by the Port of
Seattle: July 31 to Aug. 4, various times, downtown
Seattle Waterfront. First arrival expected at
approximately 1:30 p.m. July 31. Participation will vary
due to national military concerns. Public tours also are
uncertain. Call Seafair at 206-728-0123 for more
information.
* General Motors Cup at Seafair Unlimited Hydroplane
Race: Aug. 2-4, various times, South Lake Washington at
the Stan Sayres Pit Area.
* KeyBank Seafair Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy
Blue Angels: Aug. 2-4, airshows performed noon to 12:45
p.m. each day, South Lake Washington.
Community events and festivals
* Redmond Derby Bicycle Criterium: Tomorrow, 9 a.m. to
1 p.m., downtown Redmond. Call 425-556-2300.
* Kent Cornucopia Days
and Parade: Thursday to July 14, noon to 11 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, downtown Kent, along Meeker
Street. Call 253-852-5466.
* Mercer Island Summer Celebration: July 12-14 (parade
at 10 a.m. July 13 at 78th Avenue Southeast from
Southeast 27th to Southeast 32nd streets), festival takes
place at various locations in downtown Mercer Island.
Call 206-236-7285.
* Chinatown/International District Festival: July
13-14, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, Hing Hay Park and surrounding locations, 411
Maynard Ave. S., Seattle. Call 206-382-1197.
* Redmond Derby Days Parade and Festival: July 13, 10
a.m. to 7 p.m. (kid's parade at 10 a.m. south on 161st
Avenue Northeast and east on Redmond Way, west on
Northeast 80th Street), Redmond Community Center. Call
425-556-2300.
* Hispanic Seafair Organization Festival: July 14, 9
a.m. to 6 p.m., Seward Park Amphitheater, Seattle. Call
206-523-5930.
* Seafair Indian Pow Wow: July 19-21, 7 to 11 p.m.
Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Daybreak Star
Cultural Center, Discovery Park, Seattle. Call
206-325-0070, Ext. 53.
* Seattle Bon Odori Festival: July 20-21, 4 to 10 p.m.
Saturday and 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Seattle Buddhist Church,
1427 S. Main St., Seattle. Call 206-329-0800.
* IKEA Renton River Days and Parade: July 23-28,
various times, Liberty Park in downtown Renton. Call
425-430-6528.
* Des Moines Waterland Festival and Parade: July
24-28, various times, 22236 Dock Ave. S., Des Moines.
Call 206-878-7000.
* Covington Whistle Stop Days and Parade: July 26-28,
6 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Sunday, 17700 S.E. 272nd St., Covington. Call
253-350-8361.
* Ballard Seafood Fest: July 27-28, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Northwest Market
Street, between 22nd and 24th Avenue Northwest, Seattle.
Call 206-784-9705.
* Seafair Pista Sa Nayon: July 28, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Seward Park Amphitheater, Seattle. Call 206-296-4004.
THE LOWDOWN
SEAFAIR
Saturday to Aug. 4. Call 206-728-0123 or visit
www.seafair.com.
Where:
Various locations throughout Seattle area
Journal File Photo: The Milk Carton Derby starts
tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Green Lake.
July 09, 2002
South County Journal
The Ladies of the Lake -- The first time Charlene Shaw
got ready to climb into a dragon boat, she froze.
``Oh my God,'' she thought as she stood on the dock
waiting to step into the boat. ``It's little. And tippy.
And I don't swim.''
That was last year.
Shaw and a group of 19 other women had gotten together
to learn to paddle a dragon boat, an ancient sport that
is fast gaining popularity in this country.
(The boats are 40-plus feet long and have 20 or more
paddlers.)
The women in the boat implored Shaw to join them.
But she stood rooted to the dock on the Tacoma
waterway.
Then a coach for the Tacoma Dragon Boat organization
grabbed her life jacket.
``I just levitated into that boat,'' Shaw said. ``He
said, `Sit down. Here's your paddle.' I'm like, `Oh God,
I'm going to die.'''
It didn't take long for Shaw to figure out that she
wasn't going to die, but she was going to fall in love --
with dragon boat racing.
``We're like four minutes into it and I think, `It's
like flying,''' she said.
``I thought, `I can do this.'''
Shaw has been a dragon boat enthusiast ever since.
After a little training with the Tacoma group, Shaw
and her group -- which included her daughter and
granddaughter -- moved on to the Cornucopia Dragon Boat
Races held last July at Lake Meridian.
It was their first competition.
They were, Shaw said with absolute candor,
``pathetic.''
``We had no idea what we were doing. We watched all
the others. They had tents. We had a tarp. They had
matching outfits. We had shirts,'' Shaw said. ``My
granddaughter, who had just blown her knee out playing
rugby and had a brace on, was our tiller. We were going,
`Oooooh, boy.'''
Then, Shaw said, ``the adrenaline hit.''
They finished second -- by two seconds -- in their
first heat.
``We were beside ourselves with joy,'' she said.
``Then we found out we had to do another heat. We came in
second the next heat.''
They ended up winning the second-place award in the
novice recreational division.
Shaw, a 64-year-old great-grandmother, was hooked.
The Tacoma Dragon Boat group took Shaw's group --
dubbed Ladies of the Lake -- under its wing.
But Shaw and other participants found getting to
Tacoma for the 5:30 p.m. practices difficult. They
arrived either late or stressed due to traffic.
This year, Shaw and others decided they would have
their own boat so that they could practice closer to home
on Kent's Lake Meridian.
But dragon boats don't come cheap. New, they're
$10,000 to $12,000, Shaw said.
``That's a big bake sale,'' she said.
One day, Shaw and some dragon boat paddling friends
were sitting down eating Chinese food. What they needed,
they decided, was a sponsor.
Enter the Valley Medical Breast Center.
``We went in to ask for paddles and life jackets,''
Shaw said. ``They said, `If we buy the boat, what can you
give us?'''
These days, Valley Breast Center is the official
sponsor of Ladies of the Lake. The Ladies of the Lake
pass out literature promoting women's health and the
value of exercise.
Many of the original members -- including Shaw's
daughter, who has moved to Gig Harbor, and her
granddaughter, who has gone back to college -- are gone
now. Boeing layoffs took their toll, said Shaw, one of
only four original members who remain. But new faces have
replaced those who have departed.
The women -- most of them middle-aged -- practice
three days a week on Lake Meridian on the racing boat
provided by the Valley Breast Center. (Shaw said the
group recently bought a ceremonial dragon boat, complete
with head and tail. She said a Puyallup businessman from
Taiwan sold them the boat -- which is larger and heavier
than the one they use for racing -- for $1.
The Ladies of the Lake will race during the Second
Annual Kent Lions Dragon Boat races on July 13.
Shaw, who is six years past a battle with cancer and
works as a secretary at the Regional Justice Center in
Kent, said she's proof almost anyone can do it.
``I'm practically the poster child,'' Shaw said,
laughing. ``I'm fluffy -- beyond belief. I'm an
insulin-dependent diabetic. I just take my orange juice
out there with me.
``It's such a positive thing. Women work so well
together. We haven't found any negatives.''
You're invited to join The Ladies of the Lake. For
information, contact Shaw at 253-859-0247 or Linda
Simpson at 253-631-5975.
South County Scene is written by Mary Swift and
appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call
253-872-6672 or e-mail mary.swift@southcountyjournal.com.
Kent-Meridian senior named Miss
Cornucopia
June 01, 2002
Journal Staff, South County Journal
KENT -- Alexandrea Conn was named Miss Cornucopia 2002
at the Kent Cornucopia Days Scholarship Pageant Thursday
night at the Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center,
The 18-year-old Kent-Meridian High School senior
received a $3,000 scholarship from the Kent Lions Club,
which sponsored the competition. Conn also won the
Community Service Award, a $500 scholarship given by the
Kent Police Employees Benevolent Association.
First runner-up was Dalen A. Thompson, an 18-year-old
senior at Kentridge High School, who won a $1,000
scholarship.
Tess K. Wakasugi, 18, also a senior at Kentridge, was
named second runner-up and winner of a $500 scholarship.
Wakasugi also won the Academic Award, a $500 scholarship
given by the Kiwanis Club of Meridian-Kent.
Scholarships of $300 apiece went to the remaining
seven contestants:
* Amanda M. Atler, 18, a senior at Kentridge High
School, who was named Miss Congeniality.
* Shayla D. Cousins, 19, a senior at Kentwood High
School.
* Erin M. Lohse, 19, a freshman at Highline Community
College.
* Johanna M. Philio, 18, a Kentridge senior.
* Dana M. Piehl, 18, a senior at Kentridge.
* Kia D. Travis, 17, at senior at Kent-Meridian.
* Stephanie A. Vergara, 18, a Kent-Meridian senior.
PHOTO by David Nelson/Kent Reporter: Alexandra Conn,
seated, was crowned Miss Cornucopia 2002 by Crystal
Tullis, the outgoing Miss Cornucopia, Thursday night.
Conn received a $3,000 scholarship from the Kent Lions
Club, which sponsored the pageant.
SOUTH COUNTY JOURNAL WEEK'S BEST
PREPS
May 21, 2002
South County Journal
AMANDA ATLER
KENTRIDGE
* Sport: Fastpitch.
* Year: Senior.
* Last week: Atler's RBI single in the 11th inning
scored Emma Hinckley with the winning run as the Chargers
captured the 4A West Central District title with a 1-0
victory over SPSLNorth rival Enumclaw.
* Favorite class: AP calculus.
* Favorite movie: ``Sandlot.''
* Favorite place to shop: Pottery Barn (with J).
* Three people I would invite and what I would serve
them: My Pa, Mom and Dad, and Jason Wickland. I would
serve spaghetti and Caesar salad, with iced tea to drink.
* What are your thoughts heading into state?: I
believe in every person on our team. We would not be in
this position without the awesome team effort we've had
every game. I know we'll go in pumped and ready to play,
but we'll have a blast at the same time.
* Greatest athletic moment: Hitting in the winning run
in the WCD championship game and knowing that my team had
confidence in me.
* Did you know?: Atler
is participating in the Miss Kent Cornucopia Days
scholarship pageant next week.
South County Scene: Sheriff
Reichert featured in Time -
May 30, 2002
by Mary Swift
South County Journal
* River Of Death -- If you happen to pick up a current
copy of Time magazine and see a face that looks familiar,
there's good reason.
It's King County Sheriff Dave Reichert, featured in an
article about the arrest of suspected Green River Killer
Gary Ridgway.
The five-page article -- dubbed ``River of Death'' --
appears in the magazine's June 3 issue.
Reichert, who was lead investigator on the case back
in the 1980s, was interviewed by the magazine several
months ago.
Yesterday he was taking the national media attention
in typical low-key style.
``Boy, my gray hair really shows,'' Reichert said,
laughing about a photo showing him at the location where
three of the victims were found.
``Actually, I just got a copy 10 minutes ago,'' he
said of the article.
``I haven't even had a chance to read it. I need to
take some time to look at it and read it. I guess we'll
see how accurate it is.''
To be honest, Reichert said, he is ``torn'' by the
attention.
The investigation was never a one man show, but a team
effort, he said.
``I'm feeling good about it. I'm also feeling a little
self-conscious about it,'' he said. ``It's like playing
on an athletic team. It takes 11 football players to win
a Super Bowl. You can see the team the Mariners put
together.
``Although it (the article) is about me, I hope it
really talks about the team that was involved in this
investigation and that is still involved today. It was 20
years, and a lot of people and a lot of hard work.
``That's what this has been all along -- a team
effort. I'm just proud to have been part of this team.''
Reichert, who grew up in and still lives in South King
County, is the oldest of seven children.
Yes, he said, you can figure the Reichert family will
be picking up a few copies of Time off newsstands this
week.
And yes, Reichert said, laughing, he already had a
call from his mother.
``She's a proud mother -- just like any mother,'' he
said. ``Parents are proud of any success their children
have.''
* The Call -- The call
came from a woman in New Jersey.
And Kent's Cheryl
Corbin, who organized the first-ever dragon boat races on
Lake Meridian last summer, was tickled.
The woman told Corbin
she'd heard about last year's event and wants to find a
crew she can row with for this year's event, scheduled
July 13 at the same site.
Word is getting out, a
delighted Corbin said.
Dragon boat racing is an
ancient sport gaining in popularity in this country. (A
demonstration of the sport was held on Lake Meridian two
years ago, but last year was the first year of official
racing.)
Corbin saw her first
dragon boat race in Portland and determined that she
wanted to become a dragon boat racer.
So much for good
intentions.
She's spending so much
time organizing this year's Second Annual Kent Lions
Dragon Boat Races on Lake Meridian, scheduled July 13,
that she doesn't have time to race herself.
But if you do, you're
invited to show up tomorrow at the commons at Kentwood
High School for the first session in a two-day dragon
boat racing workshop. Cost is $20 per person. The second
session, scheduled on Saturday, will involve time on the
water.
``My whole goal is to
show that it's a great sport for all levels,'' she said.
``If Cheryl Corbin can get in a boat and paddle, anybody
can. I'm a cream puff.''
Tomorrow's session
begins at 6:30 p.m.
For information, call
253-735-6368.
* Clothing Optional Gardening (And Such) -- Deidre
Finley, owner of Big Dipper Farms, makes it a habit to
offer a varied menu of gardening-related events at her
Black Diamond nursery.
But an item in her June calendar is bound to raise an
eyebrow or two.
It reads: ``Friday, June 21, All day. Summer Solstice.
Nude dancing is optional.''
My guess is she's kidding.
Everybody knows it's too cold to go naked here in
June.
South County Scene is written by Mary Swift and
appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call
253-872-6672 or e-mail mary.swift@southcountyjournal.com.
South County Scene: Auction honors
Olympian effort -
April 17, 2002
by Mary Swift
* Success Stories (And Standing Ovations) -- It
happened last Saturday during the Kent Rotary Club's
Escapades dinner auction.
And it brought tears to the eyes of those attending.
Here's why.
Each year during the auction, there's a point where
attendees are asked to fund a specific cause.
This year's beneficiary was the Children's Therapy
Center, a Kent-based nonprofit that provides therapy to
children born with special needs.
To illustrate the role Children's Therapy Center plays
in the lives of the children it serves, the center has a
video highlighting the life of a boy named Patrick Holt.
Born 2 months prematurely, Patrick was on life support
as a newborn.
Doctors told the foster parents who eventually took
him home that he would probably never walk, talk or feed
himself.
Oh, what a difference time, dedicated family, and the
Children's Therapy Center can make.
Patrick is now 17.
The couple who were his foster parents are now his
adoptive parents. (He is one of eight children the couple
has adopted.)
He has earned numerous medals playing soccer and
baseball in Special Olympics.
He's working on an Eagle project and is on track to
becoming an Eagle Scout.
The video ends with a compelling moment: Patrick
proudly carrying the Olympic flame earlier this year.
It's a tear-jerker moment, says Andy Wangstad,
chairman of this year's dinner auction.
True to form, the video got a solid round of applause.
Then CTC Director Jon Botten stepped to the podium.
``Ladies and gentleman -- Patrick Holt,'' Botten said.
The Olympic theme began to play.
Then Patrick, dressed in his Olympic running suit,
came from back of the room to the front.
``The audience instantly jumped up,'' Botten said.
``They just stood there and applauded and applauded.''
Auction-goers contributed $12,000 to CTC above and
beyond net proceeds from the regular auction. Wangstad
expects to have total results from the auction later this
week.
* The Good Guys -- Count
Kent's Bill Westcott among them.
Westcott, a pilot for
Alaska Airlines, was named Citizen of the Year by the
Kent Rotary Club. The award was announced at last
weekend's Escapades dinner auction.
Westcott was honored for
his community volunteerism, including his role as head of
Kent Cornucopia Days and for his work as a district
chairman for the Boy Scouts.
``He's been in charge of
Cornucopia Days the last few years,'' said Andy Wangstad,
the Escapades chairman. ``A lot of community
organizations use Cornucopia Days as their major
fund-raiser. That's a point of pride with the people who
are behind it.''
* Mileposts -- Auburn's Don Stevenson is scheduled to
hit another one this coming Friday.
That's when Stevenson, who is doing an 8,000-mile walk
around Auburn's Game Farm Park to benefit the national
Multiple Sclerosis Society, expects to finish mile 2,000.
You're invited to join him at 11 a.m. Friday for free
hot dogs and beverages.
Stevenson, who plans to finish his 8,000-mile walk on
Nov. 25, also is logging some extra miles along the way.
He and his wife, Loretta, showed up April 7 for the MS
Society walk at Husky Stadium.
His own fund-raising efforts got a boost last week
when residents of the Vantage Glen Mobile Home Park
presented him with a check for $200.
* Something To Cheer About -- Back when they were
students at Auburn Riverside High School, twin brothers
Jameel and Jibreel Rayam made school history.
The twins -- both 6-foot-plus types -- became the
school's first male cheerleaders.
They also found work carrying the flags during
halftime shows for the Seahawks.
They're both still busy raising spirits.
Jameel's now a member of the Washington State
University cheer squad.
And Jibreel, who attends Green River Community
College, is running his own business -- Northwest Elite
All Stars, a training program for cheerleaders hoping for
college scholarships.
In the 10 months since the business opened, the
Northwest Elite All Stars have earned a host of awards.
The team also has qualified to compete in the American
Cheer Power ``Tournament of Champions'' scheduled
Saturday in Miami, Fla.
The 22-member team includes students from Auburn
Riverside, Kentwood, Kent Meridian, Thomas Jefferson and
several other high schools.
* Sightings -- License frame on a red Toyota RAV4:
``On Time Is Whenever I Get There.''
Then there was the bumper sticker a co-worker spotted
on a Subaru in Kent. It read: ``Lord Help Me To Be The
Person My Dog Thinks I Am.''
South County Scene is written by Mary Swift and
appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call
253-872-6672 or e-mail mary.swift
@southcountyjournal.com.
Kent offers jail-less option
March 27, 2002
by Jeffrey
M. Barker
Journal Reporter, South County Journal
KENT -- Those who commit nonviolent misdemeanor crimes
in Kent will soon have an alternative to jail.
It's called the Annex: a new building north of the
Kent jail out of which corrections officers will manage a
work crew, offer classes and keep tabs on inmates
eligible for home detention and work release.
``I believe we're much better off if people can pay
back to the community'' rather than sit in jail, said
Kent police Chief Ed Crawford. ``Other people are talking
about this; we're doing it.''
People who are charged with crimes such as
shoplifting, prostitution and vandalism could -- instead
of jail time -- be sentenced to spend time at the Annex
daily. They could be ordered to take classes. They could join a jail-run work
crew that would pick up trash, remove campaign signs
after elections or assist with nonprofit events such as
the Kent Lions' Cornucopia Days.
``This is just beginning,'' said Capt. Jim Miller, who
is in charge of the Kent Jail. ``There are many ideas of
what the program can do -- we just have to think of
them.''
The Kent jail operates smoothly at 100 inmates,
Crawford said. There are usually 120.
But the goal of the program is not necessarily to open
up beds in the jail. It's designed to reduce jail costs
and to help people convicted of crimes satisfy their
sentence requirements, Crawford said.
People who are sentenced to spend their days at the
Annex will not eat their meals or spend their nights
inside the jail, reducing costs.
``At the end of the day, if they want to go home and
have a beer, they can go home and have a beer. If they
want to see a movie, they can see a movie,'' Miller said.
``That time is theirs.''
But they will still be held accountable.
Crawford also said that certain inmates who cost the
jail and the courts too much money would be eligible for
programs at the Annex.
He's talking about people whose driver's licenses have
been suspended for failing to pay traffic tickets. There
are a lot of them. And despite warranting only a few days
in jail, they often fail to appear in court, Crawford
said. Then they're picked up on a warrant. Then they fail
to appear again. In the end, a person who neglected to
pay parking tickets gets a year in jail.
Those people and others who participate in programs at
the Annex would have the opportunity to work off city
fines or court-ordered community service hours.
But jail beds would remain reserved for those
sentenced to the Annex but who violate the terms of the
program.
``A program without a hammer behind it means
nothing,'' Miller said.
Kent has for nearly nine years run three alternative
programs: home detention, work release (inmates are
allowed to leave for their jobs but return at night) and
work time credit (a few inmates wash police cars, stock
shelves at the Kent Food Bank or work at the national
cemetery or the Senior Center).
Six to 12 people who participate in those programs at
any given time, contributed more than 25,000 hours of
work last year, Crawford said.
The Annex has been in the works for two years.
The property was a surplus building purchased from
King County for $1, Crawford said. And its renovation was
wrapped into the jail's remodel, which was recently
completed.
A new sergeant position was created to oversee the two
corrections officers who will run the Annex. And the jail
has purchased a 15-seat van and a trailer with equipment
for the work crew.
The new alternatives to time in jail will begin in May
with about 50 people, Miller said.
Jeffrey Barker covers Kent. He can be reached at
jeffrey.barker@southcountyjournal.com or 253-872-6627.
Briefly
Feb 15, 2002
South County Journal
KENT: Pageant orientation to be held at Kent Library
Young women interested in competing for scholarship
money and the title of Miss Cornucopia in Kent can attend
an information session at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Kent
Library.
The reigning Miss Cornucopia, Crystal Tullis, and last
year's pageant winner and current Miss Auburn, Colette
Garcia, are scheduled to appear at the meeting.
The Kent Lions Club organizes the scholarship pageant,
which will be held in the spring.
Last year, the pageant awarded more than $6,000 in
scholarships to Kent residents.
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